Sichuan job centers need support 

cctv.com 07-19-2005 13:11

We turn now to our special series on work in China. And in today's Labor Report, we look at the job market in Southwest China's Sichuan Province. Long lines and milling crowds are a common scene. Every year it's the same. And as Han Yi tells us, often a happy ending is hard to come by.

This is Chengdu Jiuyanqiao Labor Market in Sichuan province, the largest labor market for farmers and migrant workers in Southwest regions. Fan Yue have spent 3 days at the market. All he wanted was a job as a cook or dishwasher.

Job Hunter Fan Yue said: "I went to a job agency. They said I had to pay a 300 yuan registration fee to get the job information. They sent me to a restaurant. But after only 3 days, they fired me for no reason."

Fan Yue's story is not unusual. Shady employment agencies add to the difficulties of finding a job.

Luo Ximei, director of Labor Supervision Office of Sichuan Social & Labor Security Dept., said: "There are two big problems with job centres. One is the illegal agency. They charge several hundred yuan for registration, and then just disappear. And the other comes from the legal agencies that violate the regulations. For example, they charge more than the set amount, or provide inaccurate job information."

Despite these problems, job centers remain the first choice for the unemployed. They provide job listings and information, and even training classes.

Yang Qimin lost her job as a secretary in May 2004. Then she studied basic accounting on her own to become more marketable.

Accountant Yang Qimin said:"I applied to several companies, but they just didn't believe I was qualified. So I took the accounting class offered by Sichuan Job Center, and got a certificate. With the certificate and recommendation by the center, I finally got a job with the South Digital Surveying Company in March this year."

Yang Qimin was lucky. Not everyone has the opportunity to be trained and find employment.

Wu Jiang, director of Employment Depts of Sichuan Employment Service Admin, said:"Every year, only about 300,000 people in Sichuan receive short-term training offered by job centres. That's less than 30% of the total number of laborers. At present, only those who have a Reemploymen Preferential Certificate can receive the free training. This is not enough."

Figures from Ministry of Labor and Social Security show that by the end of 2003, nearly 31 million people had registered at job centres. And officials are not optimistic. Millions of jobless continue to haunt job fairs. In Sichuan alone, about 800,000 people fail to find jobs every year.

Job centers not only bring applicants and employers together. They also offer valuable counseling and training. But if all of Sichuan's and the nations jobless are to find employment, these centers need support and better regulation.

Editor:Wang  Source:CCTV.com